Thousands marched through Minneapolis on Saturday to protest the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a federal immigration officer earlier this week, joining hundreds of similar demonstrations planned across the United States over the weekend. The Minneapolis rally, organized by migrant rights groups, began in a park near the neighborhood where the 37-year-old woman was killed on Wednesday and featured chants calling for ICE to leave the state, with protesters carrying signs reading “De-ICE Minnesota!” and “ICE melts in Minnesota.”

Speakers and participants expressed widespread fear and anger over the aggressive immigration enforcement operations. Meghan Moore, a Minneapolis mother of two, told reporters that communities are “living in fear” due to the environment created by ICE actions. Connor Maloney highlighted daily harassment of residents, describing the situation as “sickening” in their neighborhoods. In Durham, North Carolina, Steven Eubanks said he felt compelled to protest the “horrifying” killing in Minneapolis and the broader crackdown.

Minnesota leaders urged demonstrators to remain peaceful while sharply criticizing the federal deployment. Governor Tim Walz stated that it took only one day after thousands of armed officers arrived for someone to be killed, accusing President Trump of wanting chaos to distract from the incident. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey warned against agitators trying to incite violence, noting that while most protests have been peaceful, those damaging property or endangering others would face arrest, and suggested the unrest plays into the administration’s hands.

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The Trump administration has described both the Minneapolis shooting and a separate incident in Portland, Oregon, where two protesters were shot, as acts of self-defense against individuals who allegedly weaponized vehicles against officers. The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed the Twin Cities operation as its largest-ever immigration enforcement effort, involving more than 2,000 officers amid allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. Protests in Minneapolis have largely remained peaceful compared to past unrest, though minor confrontations occurred near federal buildings.

The nationwide demonstrations, coordinated by groups including Indivisible, spanned states such as Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, and Florida. In Minneapolis, three Minnesota congresswomen—Ilhan Omar, Kelly Morrison, and Angie Craig—were briefly allowed into an ICE facility before being ordered to leave, prompting accusations of obstruction. A recent federal judge’s ruling temporarily blocks policies restricting congressional access to immigration facilities, stemming from a lawsuit filed by members of Congress.

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